Planet ISKCON

Finally available: the highly acclaimed memoir from
Srila Prabhupadas personal photographer: Visakha Dasi Five Years, Eleven Months and a lifetime of unexpected love. Brilliant photographs a talented writer her descriptions are lyrical and evocative. Kirkus Reviews

Conclude ISKCON 50 with an overlay on your Facebook picture.
By ISKCON 50 Global Office
The Global Office for ISKCON 50 has released a 50th anniversary overlay that can be used over your profile picture on FaceBook. The overlay which was developed by a team in India led by Advaita Das and Toshan Nimai Das to conclude the 50th anniversary with a high note on social media. “We have seen several successful social media campaigns such as Digital India and the Paris solidarity movement after the bombings when people overlaid their profile pictures with a flag,” explained Toshan Nimai Das. “Similarly, we have designed an overlay using the ISKCON 50 logo, which devotees around the world can overlay on top of their existing profile pictures. This way, we can build more awareness about ISKCON 50 through social media.” Devotees can simply use the overlay by clicking here or visiting http://iskcon50.thyrse.org/signup. Once at the site, you need to login using your Facebook credentials to drag the overlay over your current profile picture. The resulting picture with the ISKCON 50 logo on top of your profile picture will be added to your album, and you need to change your profile picture with the new one.

“The team that has developed this application worked hard over a few months,” explained Romapada Das, International Coordinator for the 50th anniversary. “We urge devotees around the world to use this overlay and change your profile picture. Please request all devotee friends on Facebook to do the same. Let us conclude the 50th year of ISKCON on a high note by making our presence felt on social media.”

For more information contact the ISKCON 50 office by sending an email to romapada@iskcon50.org.

Questions to Move You Forward
1. Do you talk about what’s wrong with people or do you talk about what’s wrong with yourself and how you can improve?
2 Do you procrastinate on your goals and tell others why you can’t achieve them or do you work on your goals?
3. Do you spend more time watching TV, surfing the net, and reading the news than you do hearing and/or reading sastra?
4. Do you allow yourself to become distracted when you chant japa or do you make an effort to be focused, present and prayerful?
5. Do you shy away from making needed changes in yourself, sadhana and service or do you love to challenge yourself?

6. Do you just do enough sadhana (or just do it well enough) to keep your head above water or do you do whatever is necessary to make steady advancement?

7. Do you associate more with those who like to complain or do you associate with those who can help you advance?

8. Do you remain stuck in the past or do you get inspired by what can be done now and in the future?

9. Do you resist difficult or challenging service or do you seek out such service?

10. Do you do your service with an attitude of “just get it done” or do you do it like an artist would approach working on a masterpiece?

11. Does your association bring people down or does it lift them up?

12. Do you waste time or do you fully exploit time?

13. Do you serve to receive applause or do you serve to please guru and Krsna?

14. Do you sleep late or do you rise early?

15. Do you do your service just for your own upliftment or do you also do service as a means to change the world?
Mahatma das

Let Krsna into your heart through your ears!
When I listen to Srila Prabhupada speak, I marvel at all the verses that he knows and recites and how his knowledge is flawless. I meditate on him sitting before his Guru Maharaja, hearing with rapt attention. I also think about where and when Srila Prabhupada was when he memorized each sloka that he knows. I pray that I can someday see all this.
Srila Prabhupada told us that he was very enthusiastic to hear from his Guru Maharaja even though at first he didn’t understand everything that his Guru Maharaja was saying. Srila Prabhupada: “As you know, because I was little interested in hearing, my Guru Maharaja, he accepted me as his disciple. He marked this. ‘This boy is interested in hearing. He does not go away.’ Actually, I do not know. I could not understand what he was speaking in the beginning, but still I was very much interested to hear him, out of curiosity or something like that.” (10/19/72)

The fact is, anyone who actively hears transcendental knowledge from the right source – throughout his or her life – will mature in devotional service and come to the highest platform – simply by hearing.

In the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna advises Arjuna to hear from Him, saying that by doing so Arjuna will come to know everything perfectly.

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Now hear, O son of Prtha, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.”(Bg. 7.1)

Kapiladeva’s guidance to His mother, Devahuti, is similar: “Kapiladeva said: One can get liberation by seriously discharging devotional service unto Me and thereby hearing for a long time about Me or from Me. By thus executing one’s prescribed duties, there will be no reaction, and one will be freed from the contamination of matter.” (SB 3.27.21)

In his purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada comments: “This serious devotional service can develop by hearing for long periods of time.”

Our ears are miraculous instruments – gifts from God – that are specifically designed to collect information about the spiritual world and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

To grow in spiritual life, regularly point your ears toward the transcendental vibration. Hear purposely and for as long as possible each day . Even if, at first, you don’t understand or appreciate everything that you are hearing, in due course of time, you will come to relish it.

Krsna Katha is Krsna Himself. Let Krsna into your heart through your ears and He will reveal all.

Narada Muni:

“Thus he is the actual seer who worships, in the form of transcendental sound representation, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, who has no material form.” (SB 1.5.38)
Vaisesika Dasa

Bhaktisiddhanta Disappearance Day class at Radha Gopinath Mandir, Mumbai

Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Appreciating Bhaktisiddhanta’s historic contributions in historical context appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 December 2011, Durban, South Africa, Morning Lecture)

Piety has diminished many generations ago. But the mercy of Lord Caitanya that has come into the sinful life of fallen people in a world where everything has gone astray. Sinful activities are covering the globe; this is the reality. Therefore this is not a time when we can just feel good about ourselves. It is not a time where we can stay in our temples where everything is very flowery and sweet. When we are concerned with ourselves only; that will not do. We cannot expect that we will be saved from the influence of the illusory energy which is all around us by staying on our little island in the middle of the ocean as even in the temple, material desires are very strong.

Devotees are finding that externally they accept spiritual life but internally they struggle. Internally, they feel the pushings of the mind and the senses to be very strong and some are cutting some edges! So how to overcome this… how to deal with this… how to control the mind? The question has been asked a thousand times over. Again and again, many times a day that question is asked, ‘How can we conquer the mind? How can we conquer lust? How we overcome material desires? How can I become humble? How can I become spiritual? How can I become saintly when I’m not?’

How??? The key is devotional service. To simply engage in devotional service so much so that there is no time to worry about the mind and the senses! Whenever there is time, the mind becomes agitated and then the answer is more service. When the mind gets agitated about having too much service; that is all right. That is good, otherwise the mind would be agitated about material things!

Super Saturday! (Album with photos)
Sutapa Das: Today is probably the biggest shopping day of the year! Over 250 devotees will be out there giving people the best gift in the world… the best books in the world :) Join them if you can!
Big thanks to all those offering your energy and efforts to the “Final Offering”. See if you can spot some of the illustrious book distributors!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/3GyiCt

It is said that the higher authorities are always observing us. The sun, moon, air, fire and the ten directions, they are noting our actions. We cannot escape this. A sadhu, who by dint of his spiritual advancement can perceive this, refrains from committing sinful activity, even though apparently no one is watching. Even after knowing about all of this, sometimes we get carried away. Why? Because of kama (lust). Therefore Krishna instructs us that we should first curb this lust. Because of this we are forced to act in such a way, even though we know we shouldn’t. If one can control this then he is advanced. It takes time. Continue reading "Controlling our urges
→ Dandavats"

On 17th December 2016, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj gave festival class at Sridham Mayapur on the occasion of the disapperance day of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Please hear/download it here :

The post Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Disappearance Day Class (Mayapur) appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

He who sees an object is called the seer, and an object seen by the observer is called the seen. The instrument of seeing, is called sight. It is a common error to deem the sense of sight the actual seer. Whatever we can measure by any of our senses we also call a seeable object, and he who senses it is called the seer. It is best that the jiva see himself as the object of Krishna's enjoyment. Thinking himself the seer, he sees the world as the object of his enjoyment. But thinking himself the enjoyer, under the influence of the false ego, will result only in his misfortune. It is not fitting that the jiva see the world as the object of his own enjoyment. Rejecting that outlook, and instead seeing the world as the object of the Lord's enjoyment, seeing it as Krishna's world or Gokula, is the jiva's good fortune and satisfies Krishna's senses - "I am not the seer, but rather am seen by Krishna. I am not the enjoyer, but the object of enjoyment for Krishna." Continue reading "The Philosophy of “the Seer and the Seen” of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati
→ Dandavats"

Every spot on earth where discourses on God are held is a place of pilgrimage. Possession of objects not related to Krsna is our main malady. Those favored by God find their paths set by thorns. We are put to test and trial in this world. Only those who attend the kirtana of the devotees can succeed. Let me not desire anything but the highest good for my worst enemies. As dalliance with the body in luxury increases, so wanes the spirit of service of the Lord. Those favored by God find their paths set by thorns. Continue reading "Words of wisdom from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
→ Dandavats"

Turning to Swamiji in the Here and Now

The post Daily Darshan: December 17th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

We have over a hundred devotees living in Lombok, which is the next island over from Bali, Indonesia. The population is mainly muslim but there’s about 10-15% Hindus living there as well.

About 15 years ago, the devotes got together and bought some land and built a simple temple with asramas, kitchen, prasadam hall and small goshala.

They regularly have programs and festivals like Rathayatra. It was my good fortune to visit there again recently.

How do we upgrade our home to a sacred space or temple? A temple is a place of worship, centred around spiritual activity. When I speak to resident devotees at the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple about their lives there, the common thread is that they are grateful to live in the Supreme Lord’s house, and that His presence is always felt. When we visit temples, we do not enter with our shoes on as they are unclean. We trod everywhere in them, touching all types of dirt. Removing our shoes immediately elevates our mind, making us recognise that we are now entering a special place. Replicating this practice in our homes will assist us in remembering that our homes are a sacred sanctuary too. Continue reading "Create Sacred Space
→ Dandavats"

This drama performed by the students of Bhaktivedanta Academy, Alachua, Florida, USA, commemorates the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada formally establishing the Hare Krishna movement in the United States and celebrates how he influenced an entire generation and the unprecedented achievements that followed.

Krishna Food, A Glimpse Behind The Scenes (4 min video)
Food prepared for and offered to Krishna with love and devotion becomes completely spiritualized. Such food is called Krishna prasadam, which means “the mercy of Lord Krishna.”
Eating only food offered to Krishna is the perfection of vegetarianism. In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna says that unless one eats only food that has been offered to Him in sacrifice, one will suffer the reactions of karma. He also states, “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I will accept it.”
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/MvNzNu

A note of thanks to my mind.
In 1972, Srila Prabhupada made a down payment on land in Juhu Beach, Bombay, intending to build Sri Sri Radha-Krsna a beautiful temple there.
Even though Srila Prabhupada had made a down payment on the land, the owner, who had a past history of shady dealings, had not yet handed over the land deed to ISKCON as he had promised he would do.
Srila Prabhupada saw indications that the owner might change his mind and decide not to sell the land. Or worse, he may try to cheat the devotees and keep the down payment.
In India, when one installs Deities on a piece of land, legally, it secures one’s hold on the land as the Deities become the proprietors and no one will dare to move Them. Therefore, to secure the Juhu land, Srila Prabhupada moved the Deities, Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari there as quickly as possible after giving the down payment.

Just after doing this, Srila Prabhupada also performed a ceremony to lay the corner stone for the temple he intended to build there, (another act that solidifies one’s right to keep and stay on a piece of land).

At first, due to lack of facility, the devotees had to worship Radha and Krsna in a tent.

After some years of intense struggle, Srila Prabhupada and his followers developed the land, relocated the previous renters and established a beautiful temple there that today hosts millions of people every year.

As humans, we have the chance to build such a temple … In our hearts.

Our bodies are like that Juhu land.

As Srila Prabhupada quickly installed the Deities on the Juhu land, we should also install Krsna in our hearts as soon as possible before death comes to cheat us, taking away our opportunity.

Making a firm vow to chant the holy names a fixed number of times each day, we lay the cornerstone for a temple in our hearts where we can properly worship Krsna.

As Srila Prabhupada pushed forward to secure the Juhu land, we must also push forward – against all odds – to ready our hearts for Krsna worship.

Before Srila Prabhupada purchased the Juhu land, it was infested with rats and mosquitoes and there were renters living on it who were not favorable to ISKCON. Today, a beautiful temple adorns that land in Juhu.

Similarly, our hearts may be overgrown with unclean desires; nonetheless, as we firmly keep our vow to daily chant the maha-mantra and to follow the regulative principles, we will see a beautiful temple erected in our hearts.
Vaisesika Das

From Russia with love (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: In the past we saw the work which Russian manufacturing company in Mosc...

Russian/English Conference.

Austerity, Knowledge and Bliss.
Inspirational sankirtan video featuring distribution
of Srila Prabhupada’s books on several continents.
If you like this video, please go out and distribute some books.
If you are already distributing, please make it your life and soul.
If you already did that, please start teaching your realizations to others.
Read Srila Prabhupada’s books, live by them, distribute them.
Leave everyone with a good impression, including yourself.
Get books, get mantra, get going. Go go go!
Wishing you a happy Srila Prabhupada marathon.
In gratitude
your servant
Navina Nirada Dasa
Watch it here: https://youtu.be/l6aVFi1TNIg

U.S. House of Representatives Library Purchases Srimad-Bhagavatam Set.
The U.S. House of Representatives Library in Washington D.C. recently purchased an entire set of Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam, during the House’s Diwali celebration on October 31st.
Meanwhile on December 14th, the Indian Embassy stocked their library with eight copies of Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

Kirtan for ever! (2 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: A sweet remembrance from Kartika Parikrama 2016. Kirtan forever!
Watch i...

Vaishnavi flight attendants giving evacuation instructions for when your …life goes down in flames :-) (1 min video)
Fantastic flight attendants to Goloka!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ukooVe

New website iskconconnection.org hopes to get an accurate count of all ISKCON members for the first time ever, and to help them feel part of an international family by connecting them to all the inspirational activities in ISKCON around the world. The website is the face of ISKCON Connection, ISKCON’s global membership program, developed by the GBC and based at ISKCON’s headquarters in Mayapur, West Bengal. “We’re inviting all devotees, well-wishers and friends of Krishna to stand up and be counted as part of our spiritual family,” says team-leader Praharana Dasi. “This is important because we have no idea how many of us there are in the world – we just have guesses.” Continue reading "ISKCON Connection Hopes to Bring International Family Together
→ Dandavats"

Almost one and a half year ago, 3 devotees living in Villaggio Hare Krishna (near Milan) moved to Turin to open a new ISKCON center. Turin is the third most important Italian city and it is inhabited by about 1 million people. One year ago, the Food for Life project was also started, and the municipality asked the devotees to go in the dormitories once a week to bring there a special dinner. Indeed, they said that many homeless people often used to ask for some vegetarian food also instead of the meat which is always present in the canteens. Every Monday evening the devotees cook the prasadam and with the help of some volunteers they go to one of the four dormitories of Turin, they serve the prasadam and speak with those who are interested about the KC philosophy. Continue reading "The ex-capital city of Italy gets a new Hare Krishna temple
→ Dandavats"

“My Swamiji”

The post Daily Darshan: December 16, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 September, Phoenix, South Africa) 

So how sincere are we really!? We should not so easily accept that we are sincere but rather we should see that we fall short and that we need to deepen our sincerity, in other words, increase our commitment as sincerity is measured in the commitment that we make; the commitment that we make in sadhana and in service.

Our Krsna consciousness is measured in what sacrifices are we ready to make for Krsna. We must make some sacrifice, not in the mode of passion, but a sacrifice in the mode of goodness, which means a lasting sacrifice. Not that one day we get up at one o’ clock and the next day, we get up at nine o’ clock! Not that one day we chant 64 rounds and the next day, we chant 4 rounds! No, we must make a commitment. Krsna is asking for this, he wants us to chant a fixed number of rounds and not just as we feel.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that when we touch our beads, then we touch the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya! Isn’t that nice? I like that! By touching our beads, we touch the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya! So that is quite a deep statement. It is said that by touching the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, there is mercy obviously as he is the most magnanimous incarnation.

So we must understand how much benefit there really is in chanting the holy names, therefore we must do it. But the mind says, “Oh, it is so difficult! Oh, I have other interests… other things to do.” And when we are controlled by the mind then we are not so sincere. But we can strengthen ourselves by regular hearing, chanting and associating with devotees. That is really what we need to do.

Dr. Viveck Baluja, a neurologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, has begun a study on the effects of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra on the brain that has already yielded exciting findings and impressed hospital staff. Dr. Baluja (Vinaya Gauracandra Das), was inspired to embark on the project by his guru Jayapataka Swami. He is also working with his wife Padmaksi Sri Devi Dasi, as well as members of Jayapataka Swami’s medical team headed by Dr. Achyutananda Das.

A video by Anton Aleksandrov.

I want to acknowledge the boldness, heroism and humility exhibited by the US veterans, both men and women, and including Tulsi Gabbard -- a warrior and congresswoman. In solidarity, they joined the Native Americans and many others at Standing Rock. They are truly warriors and leaders.

The beautiful deity of Gopinath was discovered at Vamsivat in Vrindavan 500 years ago by Madhu Pandit and Paramananda Bhattacarya. Madhu Pandit served Gopinath with great love and devotion for many years. Centuries later Gopinath was moved to Jaipur where He has been worshipped along with Srimati Radharani ever since. The temple is popular with the people of Jaipur, who come together daily to chant Radha Gopinath’s glories. Indradyumna Swami's parikrama party eagerly visits the temple each Kartika. A video by Ananta Vrindavan.

ISKCON 50, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York City in 1966, was celebrated in Houston over four consecutive days, beginning with a formal gala dinner on Thursday, December 8 at the society’s state-of-the art new temple on West 34th Street. The Houston festivities were part of another major “ISKCON 50” celebration held in the U.S. in 2016, following the highly successful Washington, D.C. gala in November.

The U.S. House of Representatives Library in Washington D.C. recently purchased an entire set of Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam, during the House’s Diwali celebration on October 31^st. The books came from ISKCON Baltimore’s Jiva Daya Sankirtana Team, which is working hard during ISKCON’s 50^th anniversary to place Srila Prabhupada’s books at various prestigious locations such as government offices, libraries, and embassies in the Washington D.C. area. 

Motivational philosopher Jay (Ghanashyam) Shetty explains how failure may not build resumes, but builds character and helps us learn to adapt to change.

Comfort Zone (Audio) by Mahatma das.
A comfort zone is a psychological state in which things feel familiar to a person and they are at ease and in control of their environment, experiencing low levels of anxiety and stress. In this zone, a steady level of performance is possible.
Or a settled method of working that requires little effort and yields only barely acceptable results. “if you stay within your comfort zone you will never improve”
Listen to it here: https://soundcloud.com/mahatma-das/comfort-zone?in=mahatma-das/sets/reality-check